Report on Universities Scotland Conference

8 MARCH 2003 - Beardsmore Conference Hotel in Clydebank

Report by Eleanor Coner

 8 MARCH 2003 - Beardsmore Conference Hotel in Clydebank

Report by Eleanor Coner

The focus of the conference was closing the gap between the level of middle class and working class participation in Higher Education. It was unusual and very good because it was aimed at both the school and Higher Education sectors and both sectors made presentations.

The conference was opened by Lewis MacDonald, the Junior Minister with responsibility in this area. He read his prepared, politically correct script on what good things "Access" and closing the gap in HE participation rates between the different classes were. However when challenged as to whether he saw this as meaning bringing the current working class 34% participation rate up to the 64% middle class participation rate or getting both to converge at 50%, he actually answered the question. He said that there were no plans for expanding higher education i.e. stick with the 50% participation.

The HE presentations outlined the scale of the problem in statistical terms - the gap has closed markedly since the late '70s, but this movement has been made possible by University expansion. It also analysed the reasons for the difference. Significantly, the most important factor was the qualifications a youngster achieved, (this was more important than class) so the main cause for class inequality was their differential in obtaining Highers or A levels. Financial constraints were also important. Working class children were more likely to choose courses that were clearly linked to jobs. An Admissions Officer highlighted the difficulty in identifying a student's potential - as opposed to going by their qualifications - when there was a growing trend to not reveal important background information such as school and post code. Often the most they had to go on was the student's personal statement which might have been written to a formula provided by the school or done with no school help at all. There were significant differences in how you dealt with applications to subjects that were over-subscribed and those that, like engineering, had a shortage of candidates. Then there were the pressures on the Universities to do well in the league tables and recruit only the most able students. Universities supported the "closing the gap" agenda, but there were a lot of practical difficulties. We also heard from a number of students who were involved in different access programmes such as LEAPs and GOALs. Some were student supporters, some were people who had come through the schemes. All were inspiring and there was a clear message that the best way to get youngsters to raise their sights was through youngsters who had done just that.

From the school sector there was a presentation from Lindsey Roy, Headteacher at Inverkeithing, of the various projects from early intervention onwards aimed at closing the gap. However, he suggested that the main problems were still community expectations of young people. Keir Bloomer presented his analysis of what is wrong with Scottish Education and the need to refocus what we teach away from subjects on to skills.`

I attended a workshop on the problems faced by science subjects in attracting students. There's a huge gender imbalance (which could surely be used a recruiting factor). However, the real problem is in getting students, whether male or female to take these subjects. Why do so many choose media studies? Is the image of engineering wrong? Is it seen as being a car mechanic?

This was a good conference with lots of new information and an excellent opportunity for dialogue across sectors.

 

08 Mar 2003